“The prudent ignores an insult.” (Proverbs 12:16) We live in an increasingly insulting time. I can’t remember our nation ever being so divided along ethnic, political, or socio-economic lines like it is today. We lack godly leadership from the White House to the out house. Politicians insult our moral compass, our sense of duty, our intelligence, and our history. What are we to do as Christians?
Two brief principles will help us remain true to our faith and the Scriptures. Solomon said to ignore insults. Now, for most of us this in itself is a call to the Cross. We are taught to defend our rights, defend our honor, and defend our Mom. How can we ignore? On the other hand, we are called to stand for truth, stand against the destructive works of darkness and be the salt of the earth. How can we do both? Are they contradictory?
If there has ever been a time to stand up clearly for truth, it is now. Our nation needs men and women of integrity to speak clearly and without apology for the truth of the gospel. As Christians, we have the answer to the ills of humanity—and we do not need to be quiet. The voice of the silent majority must be awakened if our nation will survive. While we’ve enjoyed wonderful freedoms, the powers that be have undermined and changed the moral fabric of our nation. Deceived politicians, and even some religious leaders, don’t seem to know the difference between men and women, godly and ungodly marriage, or which bathroom people should go into.
As we stand with a voice of clarity, how do we ignore the insults. Those who promote and advance immoral perversions always seek to engage in verbal insults. Rather than discussing issues with respectful integrity, they attempt to cause hostile reactions with their inflammatory insults. Then when the dialogue descends into mudslinging, they run into their castle of educational snobbery, claiming to be on the cutting edge of progressive thinking. All of this is to hide their immoral agenda from us.
We must speak, and we must speak clearly and respectfully. However, we must also ignore the personal insults that sidetrack us into mudslinging. When we get into mudslinging, two things are sure to happen: we get dirty and we will lose ground. And worse than that, the pigs like it! America was founded on free speech, and for that we should be thankful. It is the freedom of speech that allows us to recognize a fool when they share their thoughts. By all means, let them talk.
We must separate the real issues from their insults. If we don’t, we’ll respond to the personal attacks instead of the bigger issues. That is a tactic used by progressives to divert the conversation into personal assaults and play the victim. Let us be wise to understand the substantive issues and stay on target, lest we find ourselves…wrestling with pigs!
